U.S. universities not only offer a wide range of majors but also have various nuances in degree names, with the most common being MA and MS.
- Master of Science (MS) can be simply understood as a science degree;
- Master of Arts (MA) can be understood as an arts degree;
The same major might be offered as an MS at one institution and an MA at another. Even within the same school, a program may have both an MA and an MS track.
- There is also the MEng for engineering,
- the MBA for business,
- the EDM for education,
- and the MFA for arts.
What do these all mean?
For example:
The Marketing major, for instance, is an MA program at Webster University, an MS program at New York University, and an MBA program at the University of Pittsburgh.
Differences in degree names can mean variations in coursework, application requirements, and STEM designation. Students should read carefully and choose wisely.
STEM Fields
The main distinction in STEM master's degrees is between the MS (Master of Science) and the MEng (Master of Engineering).
The MS is a research-oriented degree. If students plan to pursue a PhD later, MS programs often include many doctoral prerequisite courses. Especially for PhDs at the same institution, master's coursework can count toward many credits, shortening the overall doctoral program length.
The MEng (promise me you won't pronounce it like the Chinese surname "Meng," okay?), on the other hand, is more practice-oriented, helping students connect with the industry as quickly as possible.
Take computer science as an example: an MS emphasizes algorithms, while an MEng focuses on coding.
For instance, UC Berkeley's EECS offers both MS and MEng programs. The MS can serve as a stepping stone to a PhD, while the MEng is a one-year, strongly career-focused program.
In terms of admissions, the MEng tends to be slightly less competitive than the MS. Many applicants believe that MS programs, with their longer duration, carry more prestige.
However, some applicants prefer to start working (and earning) sooner. So this one-year program, with its shorter duration and slightly lower admissions requirements, still offers a Berkeley diploma that can land excellent job offers and packages in Silicon Valley.
Humanities and Arts
The humanities and arts have their own nuances. Take economics (Econ) as an example: an MA in Econ tends to lean more toward sociology, macroeconomics, etc., while an MS in Econ emphasizes quantitative analysis and economic levers.
The same goes for fine arts majors.
The MFA (Master of Fine Arts) is a fine arts master's degree. These programs are more professionally focused, designed for students aspiring to become artists rather than designers.
The MA, on the other hand, is broader—a humanities degree covering fields like art history, arts management, illustration, etc.
Importantly, an MFA must be completed over two years with at least 60 credits. Many MA programs, however, can be finished in just one year.
From an employment perspective, the MFA requires 60%–85% of coursework in pure arts practice, such as sculpture, while an MA typically has about half of its courses in design practice.
STEM?
Additionally, not all MS programs are STEM-designated, and not all MA programs are non-STEM. It still depends on the specific program classification.
